The best gluten-free comfort foods at your supermarket

Going gluten-free used to be a seriously painful food adjustment. It meant no bread, no pasta, no cookies ó and that was just the beginning.

But recent years have brought an explosion of gluten-free options in nearly every food category, from bakery items to heat-and-serve frozen entrees.

Some are made with naturally gluten-free ingredients. Others are creatively crafted versions of classic dishes, made with alternative starches that literally put comfort food back on the plate for gluten-free eaters.

Hereís the scoop on the options youíll find in the freezer section. (Prices are approximate and vary by store and region.)

Dish up a great big spoonful of this cheesy mix for a satisfying Tex-Mex meal. The melange of tortilla bits, beans and cheese is relatively standard, but the green enchilada sauce pushes it over the top. A 9-ounce bowl has 380 calories, 13 grams fat, 630 mg. sodium. $4.99 at Whole Foods. (4 stars)

Big flavors of carrot, shrimp and ginger inside a crispy, rice flour-based skin make this a fun and tasty dinner option. One egg roll has 110 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 470 mg. sodium. A 9-ounce box of three rolls is $5.39 at Whole Foods. (3 stars)

Caesarís Cheese Lasagna in Marinara Sauce

The fairly tasteless layers of pasta lack the al dente nature of wheat-based pasta, but the tomato-forward sauce and generous layers of cheese make this lasagna rich enough to satisfy Italian food cravings. The frozen shells and cannelloni are also fine stand-ins for the real thing. A serving has 520 calories, 14 grams fat, 570 mg. sodium. $5.60. (3 stars)

Starlite Cuisine Non Dairy Enchiladas de Queso

The white corn tortillas wrapped around these hearty enchiladas are slightly pasty but the sauce is complex and pleasant, if a bit too sweet. A 9-ounce serving has 400 calories, 20 grams fat, 660 mg. sodium. $5.69 at Whole Foods. (3 stars)

Amyís Mexican Casserole Bowl

This mix of tomatoes, masa, corn, beans and cheese begs for a little more spice, but it has a homey, fresh taste. A 9.5-ounce serving has 380 calories, 16 grams fat, 780 mg. sodium. $5. (3 stars)

Caesarís Cheese Ravioli

Even though the rice and tapioca-based dough on these got a little too soft when cooked, the authentic cheese filling kicked them up a point. A 5-ounce serving has 300 calories, 13 grams fat, 290 mg. sodium. A 10-ounce package is $4. (2 stars)

Blakeís Chicken Pot Pie

As delicious as this looks, one bite is enough. It delivers disappointingly little flavor, and the corn-based crust is much too sweet. An 8-ounce serving has 330 calories, 13 grams fat, 540 mg. sodium. $4.49 on sale at Whole Foods. (1 1/2 stars)

Considering that this is not only gluten-free, but also made without eggs, soy or cheese, itís not bad. The flavor is nondescript, but itís seriously creamy. An 8-ounce serving has 230 calories, 7 grams fat, 320 mg sodium. $3.74. (1 star)

Glutino Macaroni & Cheese

The promising color of the bright yellow sauce is a ruse. Itís nearly taste-free, and the creamy texture is lost when itís heated. A 10.6-ounce serving has 440 calories, 15 grams fat, 600 mg. sodium. $3.29. (1/2 a star)

Reviews are based on product samples purchased by the Contra Costa Times or provided by manufacturers.